O'Bagy links:
Last Updated: August 17, 2012
Other Name: SSRC; Centre D'Etudes et de Recherches Scientifiques (CERS)
Location: Damascus, Syria
Subordinate To: Scientific Research Council
Size: Unknown
Facility Status: Operational
Established in 1969, the stated goal of the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) is to advance and coordinate scientific activities in Syria. [2] The SSRC is considered to be the best-equipped research center in Syria, possessing better technical capacity and equipment than the four Syrian universities. [3] Although supposedly autonomous, Jane's Intelligence Services and other analysts believe the SSRC to be linked to the military establishment, where it is allegedly responsible for new research and development of nuclear, biological, chemical, and missile-related technology. [4] The SSRC also works with the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, forming a nexus between the country's primary atomic, military, and scientific establishments.
http:// www.nti.org/learn/facilities/478/
Syria working with NORKs:
According to Syrian and EU Foreign and Security Policy sources, the SSRC is also returning to a deferred cooperative missile development programme with North Korea to upgrade Syrian 'Scud D'
variant SSMs with a maneuvering re
entry vehicle (MaRV) capability (essentially bringing them closer
in capability to the original Russian 'Scud D' standard). In disregard of UN sanctions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), both of which prohibit North
Korea from conducting security related
exports engineers from North Korea's Tangun Trading Corporation are supplying technology and expertise to the SSRC's Project 99 at Jabal Taqsis to upgrade Syrian 'Scud D' variants with a MaRV
and global navigation satellite system. This variant is designated 'Scud MD' (Manoeuvring D). The upgrade, which incorporates a bespoke canard system, will enable the MaRV of the 'Scud' to alter its original planned trajectory when it re-
enters the atmosphere, significantly impr
oving its accuracy and increasing warhead survivability by making its flight path problematical to assess for missile-defense interceptors.
http:// www.janes360.com/images/assets/839/32839/Syrian_chem_weapons.pdf